Supporting Co-Workers Suffering from Anxiety

How to Establish A Welcoming Professional Environment

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

Chronic workplace stress can cause anxiety, affecting an employee’s performance quality. Understanding workplace stress, anxiety disorders, and its impact on the health of a business can enable organizations support their employees living with this reality. Leading with empathy and prioritizing mental health are among the first steps.

How Can Workplace Anxiety Impact Employees? 

Anxiety in the workforce may cause employees to struggle with taking initiative in assignments or meetings and can cause an unhealthy work-life balance. Coworkers with anxiety disorders may struggle to communicate effectively with others or express their needs in the workplace, which may lead to missed deadlines, lower achievement scores and leaves of absence. 

Support Co-Workers with Anxiety

Promoting a welcoming, professional environment can be essential to avoiding anxiety-related challenges. Consider the following recommendations to best support your coworkers with anxiety. 

Lead with Empathy

Individuals may struggle to empathize with coworkers or employees with anxiety because they may not understand its prevalence or symptoms. Anxiety can appear different for many people, and there are ten primary anxiety disorders co-workers might be living with. Below are a few considerations:  

• According to Julie DiMatteo, Ph.D. from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), social anxiety disorder is becoming more common due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Employees transitioning from in-person to remote work (or vice versa) may experience anxiety due to the change in environment and expectations. 
• Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses diagnosed. 
• A proper work-life balance and positive management can improve mental health.
• Employees that feel valued and/or recognized by their company and coworkers may be more likely to remain in their position. 

Be Open about Prioritizing Mental Health 

In general, employees who know their management and coworkers support mental health may be more open to discussing their needs and taking positive risks. 

One way to show your support for mental health and self-care is by bringing it up in company announcements and ensuring your policies cater to all forms of health, not just physical. Express your commitment to employee and co-worker health by acting on your promises and ensuring company policies are fair, balanced, and supportive. Below are a few tips:

• Offer a few mental health PTO days each year. 
• Consider mental healthcare coverage if you are overseeing or influencing company benefits. 
• Speak openly about mental health and self-care with coworkers or during meetings, when appropriate.
• Express how you practice self-care in your life to act as a positive advocate.
• Consider mental health-based team-building activities. 
• Be empathetic and listen actively when a coworker or employee brings up their mental health. This may require additional training and/or education.

Take Pressure Off Team Activities  

Some employees may struggle to communicate during team activities due to anxiety about sharing their thoughts. To address this challenge, consider taking the pressure off specific employees during team-building activities by structuring them so that all employees can share their opinions. You might do so by giving each person an allotted time to share. Consider adding an optional anonymous survey for feedback from those who might be nervous about sharing their ideas during activities. 

Support Diverse Communication Styles 

Companies may make employment opportunities more accessible by using multiple communication techniques and observing all aspects of an individual’s performance, not just social. 

For example, companies can employ a combination of video, voice, and written communication for employee evaluations and meetings. Some people may perform better by having the chance to respond to questions in their own time instead of in a live setting. Testing and listening to your workforce is the key to finding the right balance.

Takeaway 

Supporting co-workers with anxiety is an achievable ideal with planning, patience and cooperation. Being empathetic to people's experiences, understanding current statistics on anxiety, and attempting to restructure team activities and communication processes for those living with performance anxiety or social anxiety disorder can make an impact. For further mental health advice, consider contacting a professional counselor.